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☆ I'm 30 and bought my first home for $375,000 this year. I have a partner but wanted to buy it on my own.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAyriel Von Schert, 30, wanted to buy a home and didn't want to wait until she was married. Von Schert, a real-estate agent, said she's worked with other single women who have also bought homes alone. Recently, I've helped a couple of other single women buy their own homes. AdvertisementI also don't think it's a good idea to commit to anything permanent with someone you're not in a permanent relationship with. AdvertisementI don't think he minds, because we no longer have a landlord telling us what we can or can't do.

Persons: Von Schert, she's, Ayriel Von Schert, I've, we're, wasn't, it's, I'm Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Mesa , Arizona —, Phoenix, Homeowners Association Locations: Mesa , Arizona, Phoenix

A decade ago, my husband and I bought a term life insurance policy worth $300,000. "We want enough to cover the mortgage and death expenses," we said to the agent who sold us our life insurance policy over a decade ago. Almost a decade later, we realized that what we planned for wasn't nearly enough life insurance to meet my needs if my husband were to die. Get Life Insurance Quotes Compare affordable life insurance options with Policygenius. The problem of not having enough life insurance seems easy enough to fix — just buy more.

Persons: —, we'd Organizations: Service, Policygenius

The best way to determine how much house you can afford is by working backward from your current budget. Current mortgage rates: The lower your mortgage rate, the more house you can afford. Where you live can impact home affordabilityHow much house you can afford depends a lot on where you live. How much house can I afford FAQsWhat percentage of my income should I spend on a house? The more debt you have, the less house you'll be able to afford.

Persons: You'll, Brian Walsh, Walsh, you'll, Freddie Mac, that's, it's, homebuyers Organizations: Business, CFP, . Census Bureau, National Association of Insurance, Consulting, homeownership, DTI, Chevron Locations: West Virginia, U.S, Washington, Alabama, New Jersey, Chevron

☆ A major curveball in retirement preparedness: divorce
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Allie Kelly | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Monthly Social Security checks aren't enough for most baby boomers to get by, further fueling a retirement crisis. A prenuptial agreement can be helpful, but it typically doesn't protect wealth built after the couple ties the knot, like retirement savings. Men's monthly retirement incomes are nearly $600 more than women's — $2,610 to $2,042 — and they're more likely to have a balance in a retirement account. Overall, divorced women like Clark see lower monthly retirement incomes than their male counterparts — and peers who have remarried. One of Mintzer's greatest divorce regrets is that she didn't safeguard her retirement savings.

Persons: —, Libby Mintzer, Mintzer, she's, Melody Evans, Evans, Roth, couldn't, didn't, Kathryn Clark, Clark, Clark didn't, Clark's, it's Organizations: Service, Social Security, Social, Gerontology, —, Roth IRA, SNAP, allisonkelly Locations: Florida, Tampa, California's Bay

☆ Dozens of zoo tigers die after contracting bird flu in southern Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hanoi, Vietnam AP —More than a dozen tigers were incinerated after the animals contracted bird flu at a zoo in southern Vietnam, officials said. The panther and 20 tigers, including several cubs, weighed between 10 and 120 kilograms (20 and 265 pounds) when they died. Samples taken from the tigers tested positive for H5N1, the virus that causes bird flu. The 30 staff members who were taking care of the tigers tested negative for bird flu and were in normal health condition, VNExpress reported. Bird flu has caused hundreds of deaths around the world, the vast majority of them involving direct contact between people and infected birds.

Persons: VNExpress, ”, Nguyen Ba Phuc, Jason Baker, ” Baker Organizations: Vietnam AP, Health, ” PETA, Associated Press Locations: Hanoi, Vietnam, Vuon, Bien Hoa, Long An, United States, California

☆ I moved 1,800 miles and took a 20% pay cut to live near my parents. It's a high-cost area, but they get to see our kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Jane Ridley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

She swallowed a 20% pay cut and bought a house in a suburb with a much higher cost of living. My husband, Max, and I moved from Texas to Massachusetts in 2021 when our oldest son, Theo, was 1. In Texas, you pay federal taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes, but there is no state income tax. Guillois's parents enjoy looking after her older son, Theo. I had to take a pay cutMax's salary remained the same, but I was forced to take a 20% pay cut for an apples-to-apples job.

Persons: Kim Guillois, —, Max, Theo, Charlie, it's Organizations: Service, Texas, Logan International, Best, Business Locations: Texas, Massachusetts, France, Houston, Boston, Virginia, HOA, Europe

☆ A boomer who couldn't afford retirement in the US moved to Ecuador and said she's living an 'upscale life on a modest budget'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

She said she went from stressing constantly about retirement to living comfortably, though life is at times lonely. "Between all those things, the result of that wonderful, exciting life was that I didn't save for retirement," Gretchen said. Living comfortably for cheaperWith $3,000 a month and a small brokerage account, Gretchen and her husband live comfortably in Ecuador. Gretchen Kay and her husband live in a newly built condo in Ecuador. In Utah, they paid over $1,000 a year in property insurance and about $1,000 in property taxes.

Persons: Gretchen Kay, Robert, Gretchen, Ecuador Gretchen, wasn't, she's Organizations: Service, Business, Walmart, Social Security, Mayo Clinic, Google Locations: Ecuador, Utah, Canoa, San Vicente, Moab, South America, Peru, Ecuador's, San Diego, Quito, Cuenca

☆ Housing supply is piling up in Florida and Texas as HOA and insurance fees jump, Redfin says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The condo market looks stuck in Florida and Texas, according to Redfin. Condo inventory has risen 53% in Florida and 42% in Texas since last year. Buyers have been scared away from both states, partly because of rising HOA fees and insurance premiums. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! AdvertisementHousing inventory is piling up in Florida and Texas, in part because homeowners-association fees and home insurance costs are scaring buyers away from the condo market, according to Redfin.

Persons: — Organizations: Redfin, Buyers, Service, Business Locations: Florida, Texas

☆ Looking to buy a home? Redfin's research lead says a flood of housing supply is set to hit the market by the end of 2025 as locked-in homeowners finally start selling.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewProspective homebuyers are painfully aware of just how bad the housing market is right now. Mortgage rates have doubled since 2022 following the Federal Reserve's initiative to raise rates and curb inflation. In an interview with Business Insider, she shared her predictions for the housing market and mortgage rates. Advertisement"That can help to alleviate some of the pain associated with getting a higher rate," Zhao said. The housing market isn't going to unlock overnight, but Zhao is optimistic that conditions will improve for homebuyers going forward.

Persons: —, Chen Zhao, … Zhao, Zhao, It's, Zhao doesn't Organizations: Service, Federal, Business, Fed, Bank of America Locations: Florida

☆ Looking to buy a home? Redfin's research lead says a flood of housing supply is set to hit the market by the end of 2025 as locked-in homeowners finally start selling
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Persons: —, Chen Zhao, … Zhao, Zhao, it'll, Zhao doesn't Organizations: Service, Federal, Business, Fed, Bank of America Locations: Florida

☆ A 26-year-old property owner shares his non-traditional approach to breaking into a red-hot housing market — even in one of the most expensive cities in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

His monthly mortgage, property taxes, and HOA fees came out to roughly $3,300 a month, documents viewed by Business Insider show. Advertisement"I knew going in that those TICs or those co-ops were definitely cheaper than an equivalent condo in San Francisco," Kaushik said. At the time, the 30-year average fixed rate was 3.22%, significantly lower than the current 30-year average fixed rate of 6.86%. Kaushik's fixed rate period is seven years, which means that after 2029, the rate could change based on market conditions. However, the fixed rate period allows homeowners to pay a lower mortgage rate than if they had a traditional mortgage.

Persons: —, Gen, pesky, Anirudh Kaushik, Kaushik, Kaushik's, he's, He's Organizations: Service, Business, Fed, San Locations: San Francisco, Bay, Francisco, HOA, New York, California

According to experts, while it can be costly, new windows can provide significant benefits like lower outside noise and better energy efficiency for the entire home. Wood windows have a traditional look that can be styled with just about any color. “You just need to keep them clean.”The only minor difference between vinyl and wood windows regarding maintenance is sealing and painting. Alexander says that if you have wood windows, they should be sealed or painted if they are exposed to rain or snow. According to experts, a window’s insulating value is called its U-factor, and lower numbers have the best insulation for energy efficiency.

Persons: you’ve, you'll, Wood, casement, ”, Nicholas Alexander, Alexander, isn’t, it’s, “, Casement, Olivia Ott, It’s, Mark Soto, Mark, TikTok Organizations: NBC, Alexander Development Group, Casement, Lowes, Energy Star, Energy, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Facebook, Twitter Locations: HOA, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, DIYers

☆ A 26-year-old software engineer who splits his time between NYC and SF explains how he makes it work financially — and his 4 takeaways from bicoastal living
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

He splits his time between San Francisco and New York City, with a few other pit stops in between. AdvertisementThe bicoastal playbookIn late 2021, Kaushik's San Francisco apartment lease was coming up for renewal. During this time, he received an average of $3,350 a month from renting out his apartment in San Francisco. The same thing is true for San Francisco — Kaushik leaves the West Coast during the summer months where there's a lot of activity going on. But being bicoastal also gives him the option to stay in touch with friends who've moved out of San Francisco.

Persons: Anirudh Kaushik, Kaushik, I've, playbook, Kaushik's, he's, He's, I'm, — Kaushik doesn't, he'd, hadn't, It's, bicoastal, San Francisco — Kaushik, who've Organizations: Service, San Francisco and New, Business, San Locations: San Francisco and, San Francisco and New York City, America, Kaushik's San Francisco, San Francisco, East Coast, New York, Paris, Mexico, York, In New York, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Coast, San Francisco and New York

Some of the most important factors to consider when buying a house are price, size, and location. Location and neighborhoodLocation is something you're stuck with until you move, so be sure you're choosing a city, school district, and neighborhood that suits your needs. If homes are flying off the shelves, you'll need to be prepared to make fast offers that get noticed right off the bat. If the appraisal comes in lower than what you offer, you'll have to make up the difference or renegotiate with the seller. Evaluating a house's resale potential is critical, as you want to be sure you're making a smart investment of your money.

Persons: Glen Pizzolorusso, Hope, that's, they're, it's, you've, they'll, you'll Organizations: Glen Christopher Luxury, Facebook, Energy Locations: Connecticut, Chevron

You can also use our guide to the best low credit score mortgage lenders to see which lenders accept borrowers with lower scores. Minimum credit score by mortgage typeConforming mortgage: 620 or higherConforming mortgages, which are the most common type of mortgage, are only available to borrowers with credit scores of 620 or higher. Get copies of your credit reportUnderstanding your credit history is key to understanding what's affecting your credit score. Review your credit report again to see what is impacting your credit score, then take steps to improve it. Getting a mortgage with bad credit frequently asked questionsCan you get a mortgage with a 500 credit score?

Persons: it's, US Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't, you've, It's, you'll, You'll Organizations: US Department of Veterans Affairs, Rocket Mortgage, Freedom, Carrington Mortgage, HUD, Federal Housing Administration, Chevron Locations: CreditRepair.com, Chevron

☆ Abolish HOAs: Homeowner Associations Make It Harder to Own a House
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Ned Resnikoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

These private quasi-governments are called homeowner associations, or HOAs. While California has the most HOAs of any state (50,000), Florida has far more HOA residents as a percentage of its population. The association also provided its residents with "the usual privileges of a citizen in any free state," Tullock wrote. Readers will not be shocked to learn that Clarke and Freedman also found that HOA residents were more likely to be white or Asian than non-HOA residents. (Cashin observed that several states, including New Jersey and Texas, had laws allowing HOA residents to subtract the cost of privately provided infrastructure from their taxes.)

Persons: Norman Rockwell, Ron DeSantis, HOA, Quinn Slobodian, HOAs —, Gordon Tullock, Tullock, it's, Jim Crow, Wyatt Clarke, Matthew Freedman, Clarke, Freedman, Robert Reich, Sheryll Cashin, Cashin, HOAs Organizations: Gov, Guardian, HOAs, George Mason University, HOA Locations: An, HOA, Florida, While California, Rossmoor , California, America, Pima County, New Jersey, Texas, That's

☆ I'm a millionaire and a financial expert and I still rent over buying a house
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Jane Zhang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

My landlord lives in a house right up the hill from me, so when I need him, I can call him, and he's right there. I'm glad I'm not doing that anymore, but I'm really glad I had that opportunity. AdvertisementRenting is also a smarter financial decision right now, with how high interest rates are. I don't think I'll rent foreverMy finances now are different than they were when I was 22. Renting really fits the current season of my life, but I don't think this is the choice I'll make forever.

Persons: —, Tori Dunlap, I've, I'm, Homeownership, That's, it's, Jane Zhang Organizations: Service, Business, PMI Locations: Seattle, North Seattle, janezhang@businessinsider.com

☆ Florida real estate struggles as ‘motivated’ sellers flood market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Taylor Craig | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Once a red-hot destination for out-of-state homebuyers, Florida is seeing its inventory of homes for sale skyrocket and price growth stagnate. "It was one of the only markets that actually sustained price growth after interest rates went up, so I think this correction is a bit overdue." According to Redfin, the median time a Florida home spent on the market was 57 days in March. "More new listings are coming on the market right now too." There are more than 5,600 active listings in Florida that include the keyword "motivated" in the description on Zillow .

Persons: Daryl Fairweather, CNBC's, Redfin, It's, Fairweather Locations: Florida

☆ ‘The Sympathizer’ star on how he ‘never felt rooted’ to his Vietnamese heritage until landing lead role
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Rochelle Beighton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Set in the 1970s as the Vietnam War draws to a close, Xuande embodies The Captain, an unnamed double agent for the Viet Cong operating within the American-backed South Vietnamese army. ‘It’s my life’Chinh, known for her role in “The Joy Luck Club,” portrays a refugee mother to a South Vietnamese Major (Phanxine) who is forced to flee to the US. Drawing parallels with her own life, she was born during the Vietnam War and was forced to evacuate at the age of 15. A unique casting challengeCasting the role of The Captain was a critical and challenging task for casting director Jennifer Venditti and her team. Xuande’s response to an international casting call immediately caught their attention with an impressive audition tape.

Persons: Viet Thanh Nguyen, “, Park Chan, ” Xuande, Xuande, ”, Robert Downey Jr, “ Oppenheimer, Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, Alan Trong, ‘, Chinh, Joy, Sofia Mori –, –, It’s, ” Oh, Jennifer Venditti, Don McKellar, Xuande familiarized, Chan, we’d Organizations: CNN, HBO, Warner Bros ., Viet, Opportunity, Hollywood, Joy Luck, South Locations: Vietnam, United States, Saigon, Sydney, Australia, South Vietnamese, Los Angeles, South Korea, Hollywood, Viet

☆ A $50 million private island that's a 10-minute boat ride off the coast of Florida just hit the market. Take a look.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A 7-acre private island off Florida's coast is on sale for $50 million. AdvertisementIf owning a private island is a personal dream for you, you're in luck — a 7-acre private island located just 3 miles off the coast of Florida just hit the market and could be all yours for $50 million. Jon Kohler & AssociatesFrom the dock on the mainland, the Panama City Beach International Airport is an hour-and-twenty-minute drive away. Jon Kohler & AssociatesJon Kohler & AssociatesIn this scenario, Weldon said the setup would be similar to a condo homeowners' association. Jon Kohler & AssociatesThe bungalows, which were first built in 2009, were remodeled when Seymour bought the island in 2018.

Persons: —, Saint Joseph Bay, Joe, Samuel, Black Sam, Bellamy, Jon Kohler, Lori Bembry Weldon, Weldon, Scott Seymour, Associates Jon Kohler, Seymour Organizations: Service, Associates, Panama City Beach, Jon Kohler & Associates, Business Locations: Florida, Saint Joseph, Port St, Florida's, Black's, Panama, Atlanta

We've put together everything you need to know about the show, including a trailer, details on when it airs, and how to watch The Sympathizer without cable. ET / 12 a.m. PT on HBOHow to watch The Sympathizer in the USThe Sympathizer airs Sunday at 9 p.m. Max with ads (Monthly Plan) Formerly HBO Max, now just Max, this streaming service is the US home of premium content from HBO and Warner Bros. Shop at MaxHow to watch The Sympathizer in the UKThe Sympathizer will eventually air through Sky in the UK, but the series won't be available until next month. This is where you'll be able to find lots of HBO content since HBO Max/Max is not available in the UK.

Persons: Robert Downey Jr, We've, Viet Thanh, Sandra Oh, Susan Downey, Park Chan, Don McKellar, we've, Max, HBO Max, it's, you'll Organizations: Business, HBO, Hoa, Warner Bros, Sky, Sky Atlantic, Max Locations: Viet, Vietnam, Vietnamese, Los Angeles, ExpressVPN

☆ ‘The Sympathizer’ review: Robert Downey Jr. heads down the rabbit hole of the Vietnam War
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The fortuitous timing of having a series produced by and featuring newly minted Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. tumbles down a very strange rabbit hole in “The Sympathizer,” a darkly satirical look at the Vietnam War and its aftermath. Each episode begins with dated-looking credits that evoke the 1970s, a promising Quentin Tarantino-ish conceit that, given what follows, sets expectations too high. As constructed, it’s a rather heavy-handed approximation of the fate Vietnam experienced in the pull of the war, which doesn’t make the Captain’s increasingly surreal arc any more compelling. Strangelove,” assuming that was the intent, than a means of maximizing the star’s presence without really heightening its impact. “The Sympathizer” is hardly the first project to funnel the contradictions of the Vietnam War through an exaggerated lens (“Apocalypse Now” being a prime example), but except for a few bracing sequences the execution only clouds that vision.

Persons: Robert Downey Jr, Downey, can’t, Park Chan, ”, Don McKellar, Quentin Tarantino, Duy Nguyen, Fred Nguyen Khan, Peter Sellers, “ Dr, Strangelove, Sandra Oh, David Duchovny, “ Organizations: CNN, Viet Thanh, CIA, HBO, coy, Credit Downey, Warner Bros . Locations: Vietnam, Viet, Saigon, what’s, “

☆ The 14 U.S. states where you can still afford to buy a home if you earn less than $75,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

There are only 14 U.S. states where residents who earn less than $75,000 can afford a median-priced home, a new Bankrate analysis reveals. Considering that half of the country's households earn a median of $74,580 or less, these 14 states are some of the few places where middle-income earners can afford a typical home. Here's a look at the 14 states where homes are most affordable, based on the annual income needed to cover homeownership costs without spending more than 28% on housing. While these 14 states may have cheaper properties available, there are trade-offs to consider, like higher rates of poverty and fewer high-paying jobs compared with the rest of the country. The median income needed to afford a home in the U.S. overall is $110,871 — up from $76,191 in 2020.

Organizations: U.S, CNBC Locations: U.S, . Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Kansas, Dakota, Virginia, United States, California, New York, Mississippi

☆ Robert Downey Jr.'s 'showboating' performances in 'The Sympathizer' are polarizing critics. Here's what reviews are saying about HBO's new series.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The series follows an agent referred to only as the Captain (Hoa Xuande), who's half-Vietnamese and half-French. Aligned with North Vietnam, he's embedded within the South Vietnam army. Critics have generally praised the series, particularly Xuande's performance and Park's direction (in addition to showrunning duties, he directs the first three episodes). Here's a breakdown of where some reviewers stand ahead of the series premiere on HBO Sunday evening. AdvertisementVariety's Alison Herman says that splitting Downey into parts both "deploys and diffuses" the impact of his celebrity on the series.

Persons: Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer, Hoa, Critics, —, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Chan, Don McKellar, he's, Robert Downey Jr, Xuande, Hopper Stone, Alan Sepinwall, IndieWire's Ben Travers, Tran Bui, Beth Dubber, weren't, Robert Downey's, Laura Sirikul, Sirikul, Variety's Alison Herman, Herman, Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, Nick Schager, Downey, Sandra Oh, Park Chan, Nguyen's, Judy Berman, Rory Doherty, lauds, Doherty, Inverse's, Fred Nguyen Khan, Duy Nguyen, Sepinwall, IndieWire's Travers, Richard Lawson, Schager, Thanh, Fair's Lawson, Marina Fang Organizations: HBO, Viet Thanh, Service, Downey, Stone, Daily Locations: Viet, North Vietnam, Vietnam, United States, Korean

☆ You need to earn $100,000 a year to buy a typical home in these 23 U.S. places
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Most people don't earn six figures, but it's become the new benchmark for whether or not you can afford a typical U.S. home. Americans need to earn an annual income of $110,871 to buy a median-priced home of $402,343 — a 46% increase since January 2020, according to a new Bankrate analysis of Redfin sales data. For context, households currently earn a median income of $74,580, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data available. As a result, the number of places where you need to earn $100,000 or more to afford a median-priced home has climbed from seven to 23 since January 2020. In Montana, the income needed to buy a median-priced home increased 77% since 2020 — the largest jump of all states.

Persons: it's, Bankrate, homeownership Organizations: Census, of Columbia, Washington, Rhode, Center, of Labor Statistics, CNBC Locations: U.S, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Colorado, Jersey, York, Utah, Montana, Hampshire, Oregon, Connecticut, Florida, Vermont, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, Maine, Texas, Hawaii , Massachusetts, New York, Utah , Montana and Idaho, Midwest, Mississippi , Ohio , Arkansas , Indiana , Kentucky, Iowa, Oklahoma

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